Every December the members of Il Cenacolo gather to celebrate the holidays and to salute the individual being named the Person of the Year. It's a happy and festive occasion, with the Holiday spirit in full swing and the membership showing their appreciation for the Person of the Year honoree.

Person of the Year Award

"A man or woman distinguished in his or her field, and who has thus contributed to the community or the community at large, is recognized at the end of every year by the members of the Board of Il Cenacolo."

Anna Maria Pierini

Anna Maria Pierini is a first-generation Italian-American of Tuscan descent. She came to California from her native Nevada to earn her undergraduate degree at Dominican University. She later earned her Master of Human Resources and Organization Development at the University of San Francisco.

Anna Maria has devoted her career to the helping professions. Early in her career she served at the San Francisco Medical Society Blood Bank as a Center Manager and Donor Recruitment Manager. She went on to serve at the Alameda Contra Costa Medical Society Blood Bank as Media Spokesperson and as Director of Donor Recruitment. During her tenure there, she was invited to speak in Russia, Poland, and Hungary by the President Dwight Eisenhower People to People Ambassadorship Program as an expert in non-clinical organization development in allied health fields. Specifically, she addressed the issues of leadership of non-clinical employees in primarily clinical organizations, and how clinical and non-clinical employees could relate successfully to meet any given common goal.

Since 1996, Anna Maria has been the Executive Director of Italian American Community Services. In this capacity, she was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the UNICO National California District II in 2004 and in 2010 was awarded a Gold Medal by the City of Lucca for being an Italian who has distinguished herself abroad. She was one of 15 people honored from around the world, and the only woman among the group.

Anna Maria currently serves on the On Lok Board of Directors, participating on their ethics committee and participant policy committee. She also serves on the Advisory Council to the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services and was the Council President for two terms. She plays tennis, volunteers for the State Parks, enjoys fine arts, travels and is an avid cheerleader for all those around her.